What to Expect During the First 30 Days After Hiring a WordPress Developer in India

Hiring a WordPress developer in India can be an excellent investment for businesses looking to build or improve their websites. India has become a hub for talented and skilled developers, making it a popular choice for companies globally. However, to ensure the success of your project, it's important to have a structured onboarding process and set clear expectations during the first 30 days.

In this article, we’ll outline a roadmap for the first month after hiring a WordPress developer. This guide covers the onboarding process, communication strategies, and initial deliverables that will help set your project on the right track.

Day 1-5: Initial Onboarding and Setup

The first few days after hiring a WordPress developer are crucial for establishing a strong foundation for your working relationship and project goals. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Welcome and Introductions

During the initial phase, the WordPress developer should be introduced to your company, the team (if any), and the project’s objectives. This is the time to share your vision for the website, brand guidelines, and any other key documents.

• Action Items: Provide access to any existing websites, hosting accounts, or project management tools like Trello, Asana, or Slack.
• Deliverables: Initial access credentials to the website, hosting platform, or project management tools.

2. Defining Project Scope and Deliverables

Clear communication of your expectations and project scope is essential. During the first few days, your developer should clarify any doubts about the project’s goals, timeline, and the desired look and feel of the website.

• Action Items: Discuss the project timeline, milestones, and specific deliverables. For example, you may want to define features like custom themes, plugins, or eCommerce functionality.
• Deliverables: A project brief document with an agreed-upon scope of work, timeline, and deliverables.

3. Environment Setup and Tools

Your developer will need to set up the development environment and ensure that all tools are in place. This includes configuring a local development environment, staging website, and version control systems like Git.

• Action Items: Confirm that the developer has the necessary tools and access to begin work on the website.
• Deliverables: A fully set-up development environment with access to your staging or testing site.

Day 6-10: Understanding Your Requirements and Research

In the next phase, the WordPress developer will start researching and gathering the information needed to bring your vision to life. The developer may also start designing and planning out the website's architecture.

1. Gathering Information

Expect your developer to gather more detailed information regarding your website’s design, features, and functionalities. This may include questions about branding, user experience (UX) preferences, and technical specifications.

• Action Items: Share any content (text, images, videos), designs, and examples of websites you admire or want to use as inspiration.
• Deliverables: A list of website features and functionalities, along with any necessary content or assets.

2. Researching and Planning

A WordPress developer should conduct research on the latest design trends, plugins, and features that align with your business goals. This might also involve choosing a theme or developing a custom one, selecting suitable plugins, and planning the site’s layout.

• Action Items: Discuss the website's technical requirements, SEO needs, and integrations with third-party tools (such as CRMs or payment gateways).
• Deliverables: A technical specifications document outlining the theme, plugins, and integrations for the website.

Day 11-20: Design and Development Kickoff

By now, your WordPress developer should begin actively working on the website’s design and initial development.

1. Wireframing and Mockups

During this phase, the developer will create wireframes or mockups to outline the website’s structure and layout. You may be provided with visual representations of the homepage, landing pages, and internal pages for review.

• Action Items: Review and provide feedback on the wireframes and mockups. Ensure that the design aligns with your expectations before moving forward.
• Deliverables: Wireframes or design mockups of key pages, including the homepage and key product/service pages.

2. Website Development

The developer will begin the actual development of the website by integrating your chosen theme, setting up the page templates, and ensuring that the basic structure is in place. They may also start working on custom functionality such as contact forms, booking systems, or eCommerce features.

• Action Items: Confirm the website’s technical setup and review the progress. Ensure that all features are being implemented as agreed upon.
• Deliverables: A working prototype or staging website where you can see the structure in place.

3. SEO and Speed Optimization Setup

WordPress developers should also begin integrating SEO best practices (such as SEO-friendly URLs, title tags, and meta descriptions) and optimizing the website’s loading speed.

• Action Items: Discuss the website’s SEO requirements and review the initial optimization steps.
• Deliverables: Basic on-page SEO implementation, such as URL structure, title tags, and image optimization.

Day 21-30: Refining and Testing

The final stretch of the first 30 days focuses on refining the website, fixing bugs, and preparing for launch.

1. Content Integration

With the basic structure in place, the developer will begin integrating content into the website, including text, images, videos, and other media. You should provide the necessary content by this point.

• Action Items: Provide any final content needed, including written copy, product descriptions, or images.
• Deliverables: A near-complete website with integrated content.

2. Testing and Quality Assurance (QA)

Expect the developer to conduct extensive testing to ensure that everything works as intended. This includes checking website functionality, responsiveness across devices, browser compatibility, and ensuring there are no broken links or errors.

• Action Items: Conduct a thorough review of the website and provide feedback on any bugs or issues.
• Deliverables: A final version of the website ready for launch, with any identified issues addressed.

3. Feedback and Final Revisions

During this period, the developer will make any final tweaks or revisions based on your feedback. This may include design changes, functionality adjustments, or additional optimizations.

• Action Items: Provide detailed feedback and confirm that the website meets your expectations.
• Deliverables: A fully functional website ready for deployment.

Conclusion

The first 30 days after hiring a WordPress developer in India are critical for setting up a solid foundation for your project. By following this roadmap, you’ll ensure a smooth onboarding process, maintain clear communication, and set realistic expectations for deliverables. Remember, a successful partnership with your developer relies on ongoing collaboration, feedback, and alignment with your business goals. By the end of the first month, you should have a fully functional WordPress website that aligns with your vision and is ready for launch.